General contractor licenses
in San Francisco, California
Start with the main licenses and permits below. For a checklist based on your own business, tell us what you’re opening and how it will operate.
Researched Sep 2026
About this example
The business is a general contractor operating from a home in San Francisco, California, serving customers in person and online, and employing W-2 employees. It does not prepare or serve food, sell alcohol, or have a commercial storefront. Legal structure and tax classification are not specified; entity-specific filings and taxes apply only when their conditions are met.
Requirement labels below refer to this setup. Conditional items depend on additional details.
Authorities researched
- Federal
- Federal Government
- State
- California
Details to confirm before you apply
- What is the exact fee for the LLC formation?
- What is the specific zoning district of the home address?
- Will the business sell taxable materials that require a seller's permit?
- What is the current fee for the FBN filing?
- What is the processing time for the CSLB license application?
- Is the business name different from the owner's legal name?
- Will the business operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation, and what federal tax classification and California income will apply?
- Confirm with the responsible agencies whether additional requirements apply in these areas: Federal employer obligations; New-hire reporting; Commercial vehicle rules; California contractor license bond; Lead-safe renovation firm certification; Individual lead-safe renovator qualification; City business license or tax registration. These areas remain unresolved in this guide.
The main licenses and permits
6 of 9- 01California contractor license (CSLB)Contractors State License Board (CSLB), Department of Consumer Affairs · California
A general contractor performing construction work in California must hold a CSLB license for any project valued at $500 or more.
RequiredNot published - 02Contractor registration with SF Department of Building Inspection (online permit access)San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) · County
A general contractor performing construction in San Francisco must have an active California contractor license, and DBI requires contractors to register with it to file building permits online.
RequiredNot published - 03San Francisco Business Registration Certificate (business license/tax registration)Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector, City and County of San Francisco · County
Every person engaging in business in the City must register within 30 days of commencing business.
RequiredAnnually - 04Employer Identification Number (EIN)Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Federal
The business will hire W-2 employees, and an EIN is required to hire employees and to pay federal employment taxes.
RequiredNone (one-time) - 05EDD employer payroll tax accountCalifornia Employment Development Department (EDD) · California
The business will have W-2 employees and must register within 15 days of paying more than $100 in wages in a calendar quarter.
RequiredOne-time registration; quarterly tax returns and wage reports thereafter - 06Workers' compensation insuranceCalifornia Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Workers' Compensation (DIR/DWC) · California
California employers are required by law to carry workers' compensation insurance even if they have only one employee.
RequiredAnnual policy
This example includes 3 other potential requirements. A report based on your business explains which apply, how to file, published fees and timing, and what to complete first.
Make the checklist yours
Your location, activities, and business structure can change the list. Get a free preview for your business, then decide whether to unlock the full report for $49.
Questions people ask
What city business licenses or registrations should a general contractor in San Francisco check?
This guide does not establish whether San Francisco requires a stand-alone general business license or registration. Confirm that question with the city, in addition to reviewing the industry permits and registrations below.
How much do licenses and permits cost for a general contractor in San Francisco?
Most fees vary by item; see report. Several items have fees that depend on your entity type, square footage, or payroll, so the full report lists each fee as the agency publishes it.
What should I do first?
Review Employer Identification Number (EIN) (Internal Revenue Service (IRS)), then California business entity formation or registration (if applicable) (California Secretary of State (SOS)), then California Statement of Information (if applicable) (California Secretary of State (SOS)). Confirm each item's applicability and prerequisites before applying; the report provides a suggested order for the full checklist.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a research summary of public requirements published by government agencies, each linked to its official page. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.
Related guides
Researched from official government sources on September 2, 2026 for a typical general contractor. Requirements change and depend on your facts; this page is not legal advice. Confirm with the issuing agency before filing.